Around the Region

Gainesville police and Alachua County sheriff's deputies are investigating multiple break-ins that apparently happened late Tuesday or early Wednesday in northwest Gainesville.

According to Gainesville police Lt. Dave Rowe, a security camera caught images of a man wearing a hoodie who smashed a front window of the Texaco at 4909 N.W. 34th St. The man then stole several types of beer from a cooler and fled, Rowe said.

The Associated Press and Staff Reports

Several N.W. Gainesville businesses ransackedGainesville police and Alachua County sheriff's deputies are investigating multiple break-ins that apparently happened late Tuesday or early Wednesday in northwest Gainesville.According to Gainesville police Lt. Dave Rowe, a security camera caught images of a man wearing a hoodie who smashed a front window of the Texaco at 4909 N.W. 34th St. The man then stole several types of beer from a cooler and fled, Rowe said.Deputies were dispatched to 4400 N.W. 23rd Ave. after a business owner discovered the front door of his business had been pried open. Deputies dispatched to that break-in then discovered several other businesses had been burglarized, according to sheriff's spokesman Art Forgey.The burglarized businesses include Helping Hands Chiropractic Center, Herbert M. Webb Law Office, Countryside Dental Care, Cecile's, and the dental office of Dr. Patricia Shipman.Forgey said the businesses were ransacked, making it difficult to determine everything that may have been taken, but preliminarily it appeared that cash, credit cards and laptop computers were seized.Karen Voyles

U.S. 19 sinkhole repaired, northbound lanes reopenThe northbound lanes of U.S. 19 in Levy County have been reopened to traffic after the state Department of Transportation filled in a sinkhole, the agency said in a media release Wednesday.Northbound traffic had been diverted to the southbound lanes since 11 a.m. Tuesday due to a sinkhole that had developed under the northbound inside lane and was encroaching on the outside lane.Crews were able to fill in the 12-foot-wide by 8-foot-deep hole with grout - a mixture of sand, cement and water - and then topped it with asphalt.The cool and sunny weather and fast response from construction crews already working on resurfacing an 11-mile stretch of U.S. 19 between State Road 24 in Otter Creek and Chiefland contributed to the speedy repairs, DOT spokeswoman Gina Busscher said.Traffic is still reduced to one lane in each direction for several miles between State Road 24 and Chiefland as the resurfacing project continues.The speed limit is reduced to 55 mph in the construction work zone.

Staff report

UF parking garage is first in U.S. with 'green' statusThe University of Florida's Southwest Parking Garage Complex is the nation's first parking garage to receive a green-building distinction, according to UF.The facility has received a gold rating from the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design system, according to UF.The system ranks facilities based on factors such as water management, energy management and material use.The complex is the first of its kind to receive a gold rating, the second-highest level, according to UF. It is still a candidate to be the first parking facility in the U.S. to be certified at the highest level, LEED Platinum.

The new $20 million complex includes a six-level, 927-space parking garage attached to a two-story Transportation and Parking Services office building.Nathan CrabbeStateCrist may meet with Obama in Tampa todayTALLAHASSEE - Gov. Charlie Crist said it's possible he'll meet with President Barack Obama today when both men are in Tampa.Crist said Wednesday he hopes Obama's announcement in Tampa will bring more jobs to the state. The governor also wants to lobby the president on Florida's application for a $1.1 billion grant for education and talk about a more bipartisan approach to governing by reaching out to more to Republicans.Congresswoman Kathy Castor of Tampa said Wednesday the president would present a major job initiative surrounding high speed rail.Crist's meeting with Obama a year ago in Fort Myers embracing the president's stimulus program has drawn criticism from some Republicans, including his Senate primary opponent, Marco Rubio.

The Associated PressTwo found shot to death in S. Florida apartmentWEST PALM BEACH - Authorities say a man and a woman were found shot to death in a second-floor apartment west of West Palm Beach.Officials say that a tenant in the apartment just below the crime scene called 911 Wednesday and told dispatchers she heard gunshots and something falling.Sheriff's deputies who drove to the apartment complex found the bodies of a man and a woman inside, apparently dead of gunshot wounds.Sheriff's homicide detectives are investigating.The Associated PressPolice: Two teens take fire truck on joy rideWEST SUMMERLAND KEY - Two 17-year-olds fled from a juvenile diversion program at a Florida Keys campground in a stolen fire truck.The teens have been arrested and charged with grand theft auto.Authorities say a Camp Sawyer counselor called the Monroe County sheriff's office Monday morning to report that the teens were missing from the site on West Summerland Key.Deputies then learned of the missing Big Pine Key Fire Department truck.The boys, who were only wearing underwear, were caught 90 miles away.The Associated Press

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